i have been thinking what the hell would happen to me if i was riding along and hit a nail or some other type of sharp thing on the road how dose the bike handle do you just fall off or is it still ridable

it will depend on the blow out, a nail will just generally cause it go flat slowly you would virtually need to slice the tyre open for it to blow out and I would guess if that happened you might fall off guess it depends again front or rear, just thinking about I don't know anyone who has blown out a tyre, plenty of flat tyres and people riding them with only 6psi at 80kmh and no problems (Bloody BMW and there excellent engineering) but otherwise no blow outs has anyone else had any experiences

A friend of mine just had this happen to her on a vintage Duc. Not a blowout, but a quickly deflating front tire. She is quite inexperienced, yet apparently was able to control the bike.

Which doesn't mean that this would be the case in every case.

BTW, hitting a nail won't mean immediate blowout. And the sharp object usually gets stuck in the rear (The front tire chucks it up, the rear catches it.)

If you hit police spikes, then both your tyres would blow. Then you would go down hard.

So dont hit them 

no intention of hijacking this thread, but has anyone had experience with a broken chain while riding? What generally happens or are they too rare an event?

Read the thread titled "Major Help Needed-Chain tried to kill me"

Or maybe that's all the information you need.

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=26906.0

Quote from: domas on August 04, 2006, 07:42:49 AM
If you hit police spikes, then both your tyres would blow. Then you would go down hard.

Someone's been playing too much GTA lately, eh?

Quote from: chister on August 04, 2006, 09:18:13 AM
no intention of hijacking this thread, but has anyone had experience with a broken chain while riding? What generally happens or are they too rare an event?

I do. My chain broke while accelerating throught a turn. I heard a HUGE crack then tons of grinding. Nothing siezed or froze up. All wheels continued to roll freely. I quickly pulled over to see what the hell had happened. The chain was wrapped around the rear swingarm. Ugly.

Long story short, my improper install of the battery, not attaching the acid drain hose allowed battery acid to drip on the chain reducing it's integrity, eventually causing it to snap. So my fault. But it was an honest mistake. I'm a new rider, didn't know batteries needed a drain tube.

About the chain.  My chain didn't break, but it slipped off and locked up the back tire going about 20mph.  Luckily I was going straight and not turning or I would've bit it.

Just like the tire its a case by case problem.  The best way to avoid either is to make sure your equipment is in good operating condition.  I knew my chain was toward the end of it's life but wanted to wait until the end of the riding season to fix it.  That decision almost caused an accident.  I think about what could've happened if I was on the highway when that happened - ugly!

Ride safe - and don't forget the pre-ride checks and don't put off maintenance problems that could be harmful to you!

From Motorcyclist Magazine...August 2006
tire blowout is #35. not too much info in it but it helps. A blowout can be VERY dangerous (ovbiously) 

1. Assume you're invisible.

2. Be considerate.

3. Dress for the crash, not the pool or the prom.

4. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

5. Leave your ego at home-The only people who really care if you were faster on the freeway will be the officer and the judge.

6. Pay Attention.

7. Mirrors only show you part of the picture.

8. Be patient

9. Watch your closing speed-Passing cars at twice their speed or changing lanes to shoot past a row of stopped cars is just asking for trouble.

10. Beware the verge and the merge.

11. Left-turning cars remain the leading killer of motorcyclists.

12. Beware of cars running traffic lights.

13. Check your mirrors

14. Mind the gap-One second's worth of distance per 10 mph is the old rule of thumb. Better still; scan the next 12 seconds ahead for potential trouble.

15. Beware of tuner cars-They're quick and their drivers tend to be aggressive.

16. Excessive entrance speed hurts.

17. Don't trust that deer whistle.

18. Learn to use both brakes.

19. Keep the front brake covered-always.-Save a single second of reaction time at 60 mph and you can stop 88 feet shorter. Think about that.

20. Look where you want to go.

21. Keep your eyes moving.

22. Think before you act.-Careful whipping around that Camry going 7 mph in a 25 mph zone or you could end up with your head in the driver's side door when he turns into the driveway right in front of you.

23. Raise your gaze-It's too late to do anything about the 20 feet immediately in front of your fender, so scan the road far enough ahead to see trouble and change trajectory.

24. Get your mind right in the driveway-Most accidents happen during the first 15 minutes of a ride, below 40mph, near an intersection or driveway.

25. Come to a full stop at that next stop sign.

26. Never dive into a gap in stalled traffic.

27. Don't saddle up more than you can handle-If you weigh 95 pounds, avoid that 795-pound cruiser. If you're 5-foot-5, forget those towering adventure-tourers.

28. Watch for car doors opening in traffic.

29. Don't get in an intersection rut-Watch for a two-way stop after a string of four-way intersections.

30. Stay in your comfort zone when you're with a group-Riding over your head is a good way to end up in the ditch.

31. Give your eyes some time to adjust-A minute or two of low light heading from a well-lighted garage onto dark streets is a good thing.

32. Master the slow U-turn-practice.

33. Who put a stop sign at the top of this hill?-Don't panic. Use the rear brake to keep from rolling back down. Use Mr. Throttle and Mr. Clutch normally-and smoothly-to pull away.

34. If it looks slippery, assume it is.

35. Bang! A blowout! Now what?-No sudden moves. The motorcycle isn't happy, so be prepared to apply a little calming muscle to maintain course. Ease back the throttle, brake gingerly with the good wheel and pull over very smoothly to the shoulder. Big sigh.

36. Drops on the faceshield?-Lightly misted pavement can be slipperier than when it's been rinsed by a downpour. Apply maximum level concentration, caution and smoothness.

37. Emotions in check?-Take inventory every time you saddle up.

38. Wear good gear.

39. Leave the IPOD at home.

40. Learn to swerve.-Be able to do two tight turns in quick succession. Practice till it becomes a reflex.

41. Be smooth at low speeds.

42. Flashing is good for you-Easy taps on the pedal or lever before stopping makes your brake light more eye-catching to trailing traffic.

43. Intersections are scary, so hedge your bets.-Put another vehicle between your bike and the possibility of someone running the stop sign/light and you cut your chances of getting nailed in half.

44. Tune your peripheral vision.

45. All alone at a light that wont turn green?-Put as much of the bike directly above the sensor wire or try putting the kick stand down directly on the wire.

46. Everything is harder to see after dark.

47. Don't troll next to-or right behind-Mr. Peterbilt.

48. Take the panic out of panic stops. Develop an intimate relationship with your front brake. Seek out some safe open pavement. Starting slowly, find that fine line between maximum braking and a locked wheel, and then do it again, and again.

49. Make your tires right-Check them for spot on pressure and any wear and tear.

50. Take a deep breath-Count to 10. Forgetting some clown's 80-mph indiscretion beats running the risk of ruining your live, or ending it.

Yes.

Do not use the break corresponding to the flattening tire. Us the other gently to slow and get to the side of the road. You are a much luckier individual if your rear tire goes. You have an easier time not hitting the pavement.

  -Anti 

Quote from: domas on August 04, 2006, 07:42:49 AM
If you hit police spikes, then both your tyres would blow. Then you would go down hard.

Police spikes are designed to stick in your tire. They are hollow tubes that allow for a slow and controlled deflation 

Welcome back Anti!  Long time!

Yes Scratch. It has been indeed.


Lets have another thread about me. I love hijacking these things to talk about my absence. 

  -Anti 

I had I nail in my back tyre and it was raining. I only noticed when I started to loose grip and the back wheel would slide a little. The nail will normaly stick in the tyre so it will slowly deflate.

I think I know were I picked up the nail. I was going around a corner and ran a little wide to the outside Of the road. This I think is were I got the nail. So the best way to avoid them I think is road positioning. Most of the road junk will be washed to the outside of the road when it rains.

Good Point Chicken...

  Stay just left or just right in the lane. About where cars tires run. This is undoubtedly the cleanest part of the road. I know it can be easy to go to the middle, but garbage collects there as well. Which is better left or right? Where you are more visible to oncomming traffic. Make others see you. It's our responsibility.

  -Anti 

ok so can you ride with a flat tyre or not

Not for longer than it takes to stop unless you are trying to get into the Guiness Book of World Records for sillyness on a motorcycle.

  -Anti 

no im just thinking if i have a blow out and i not far from home could i ride with a flat rear tyre